About
In August 2013 the British Film Institute secured funding from the London Mayor’s Schools Excellence Fund for a two year project to incorporate short film in Modern Foreign Language teaching at Year 8 and 9. The programme is called Screening Languages, and is based on research carried out between 2008 and 2010 by the (now UCL) Institute of Education and BFI, that found strong positive impacts of work with short films on French language outcomes at Year 8. It builds on 7 years of partnership between BFI Education and the IoE supporting the PGCE MFL pathway with film-rich pedagogies that improve outcomes in language learning that in turn built on practice developed by BFI with literacy practitioners.
Screening Languages aimed to raise attainment and increase motivation in MFL learning at KS3, by using short films to boost teachers’ subject and pedagogic knowledge in language and culture. Film resources have been proven to increase teacher subject knowledge, pupil attainment and engagement, and teacher pedagogy in MFL.
This website serves as an online resource for any MFL education practitioners who are looking for advice, support, and resources to create film-based schemes of work. You can find recommended short films for use in lessons, examples of schemes of work and instructions on the technical tools available for getting the most out of film in the classroom.
Who we are
Mark Reid is the Head of Education at BFI, and directed the Screening Languages project.
Jenny Carpenter was the MFL Advisor for the London borough of Barking & Dagenham and is now freelance consultant, trainer, and inspector. Jenny was one of the two lead researchers on Screening Languages.
Dr. Shirley Lawes ran the PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages at the (now UCL) Institute of Education in London. She is now a consultant researcher, advisor and trainer. Jenny was one of the two lead researchers on Screening Languages.
The BFI was founded in 1933. It is a charity governed by a Royal Charter, which combines cultural, creative and industrial roles, bringing together the BFI National Archive and BFI Reuben Library, film distribution, exhibition and education at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX, publishing and festivals.
BFI Education helps people of all ages to understand and enjoy film. We run events and courses at BFI Southbank and encourage new audiences into the world of specialist, independent and archive.